Owensboro, KY. – The Wheeling University Softball team (4-3, 0-0) played their final day of action in Owensboro, Kentucky on the final day of the Blue Bridge Battle. Wheeling would end up splitting the day and ended their trip with a record of 2-3 over their five games. They began the day with a 3-1 win over Missouri S&T and finished the day taking a 3-0 loss to Ohio Dominican to end the day.

Game One: Wheeling 3, Missouri S&T 1

The Cardinals began day three of the Blue Bridge Battle against Missouri S&T in the first two games. Jamie Anderson got the start for the first time in the tournament and allowed one hit before bringing her team to the bat racks. Taylor Hradek continued her strong tournament with a leadoff single and stole second to get a runner in scoring position. After a ground out moved the runner to third, Brooke Slomkowski stepped to the plate and lined an RBI Double that scored Hradek and made it a 1-0 game. Slomkowski was stranded at second, but the Cardinals got out to the early lead as they had in all three of their wins this season. The Miners answered with a run in the top of the second and the game was tied at 1-1.

Both pitchers traded scoreless half-innings before the Cardinals got back to the bat racks looking to add on. Singles by Autumn Oehlstrom and Paxson put runners at first and third with one out to start the bottom of the third. A strikeout brought up the second out of the inning and brought Cassie Feyh to the plate. She came through with a two-out 2 RBI double that plated both Oehlstrom and Paxson and gave Wheeling a 3-1 lead. Both pitching staffs were electric over the final four innings of the game, with the teams combining for just four hits during that span.

Anderson threw 4.0 innings in the game, allowing one run on three hits while walking four batters to earn her first win of the season. Madison Macy finished out the final three innings of the game and earned her first save of the season. She allowed just one hit in the outing and retired nine of the 10 batters that she faced on the day. It was a nice bounce-back win for the Cardinals after getting swept yesterday. Feyh led the offensive effort going 1-3 with two RBI and was joined by four other Cardinals who went 1-3 in the game. Brooke Slomkowski added the other RBI for the Cardinals as they earned their fourth win of the season.

Game Two: Ohio Dominican 3, Wheeling 0

After getting some early offense in the first game, Wheeling came back in game two and this time were the visitors. Freshman Randi Holder made her first start of her collegiate career for the Cardinals and took the circle in the bottom of the first in a 0-0 game. Unfortunately, Ohio Dominican had their bats working and tacked on three first-inning runs against the freshman. The Cardinals' offense could not respond and were held hitless in the game up until the fifth inning. Holder would only throw that first inning of the game and gave up three runs on three hits while walking one. Aubrie Lafferty pitched the final five innings of the game and bounced back after a rough outing yesterday. She threw 5.0 innings of work and did not allow a run on just one hit.

The Cardinals first hit came in the top of the fifth when Cassie Feyh led off the inning with a single. After a flyout, Alisa Shelt added an infield single and the Cardinals were in business with runners at first and second and one out. Their final hit of the day came from Taylor Hradek, who singled with one out in the top of the 6th. The Cardinals finished the night going 1-2-3 and earned a split of the third days' doubleheader. In total, they went 2-3 in the Blue Bridge Battle and kept their record at 4-3 on the season.

The Cardinals were led by Alisa Shelt on offense, who went 1-2 in her three plate appearances. Cassie Feyh and Taylor Hradek picked up the other two hits for the Cardinals on the day. Holder picked up the loss and moved her record to 1-2 on the season. The Cardinals now prepare for a spring trip to Flordia where they will play eight games in the span of five days in Winterville, Florida.

The Wheeling University Softball team will be back in action on Monday, March 7th, when they play a doubleheader against Ashland at 11:15 AM followed by Bloomfield College at 1:30 pm.